"Harsh tale of an alienated criminal's attempt to impersonate his psychiatrist-double. Important fatalistic noir, with classy visuals and a very fine script that features a creative doppelganger theme." - noir expert Spencer Selby

Also titled "Hollow Triumph". Cast: Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Eduard Franz, Leslie Brooks, John Qualen. 82 min.


This movie is part of the collection: Film Noir

Producer: Steve Sekely
Audio/Visual: sound, black & white
Keywords: film noir, Joan Bennett, The Scar

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: gestroud - - July 9, 2012
Subject: No Files
1 Star for a 14-minute salute to Alpha

Reviewer: Robert_Russell - - July 9, 2012
Subject: where's the movie?
this movie isn't playing. All I get is the Alpha Video animated logo, then nothing

Reviewer: splue - - April 3, 2011
Subject: scarry
& scary

Reviewer: KAJ1959 - - April 3, 2011
Subject: Marked with a twist . . .
I've watched this movie many times in the last week, and it's become one of my favorites here on the Archive. However, after each viewing, I come out smelling like cigarette smoke (LOL), despite the antihero Johnny's quip to his partner in crime Marcy after leaving prison that "he doesn't smoke." Note the number of times Paul Henreid lights up from the middle until the end of the film - and not even two cigarettes simultaneously!

Seriously, The Scar is another one of those forgotten noir gems getting a second life through Internet Archive. Normally known as a good guy (e.g., Now Voyager, Casablanca), producer-star Henreid made a credible bad guy, playing a part that his Casablanca co-star Bogart might have done before that film made him a romantic hero. His Johnny Muller was appropriately cold-hearted and narcissistic; you just know something's going to happen to him. I differ with an earlier reviewer's opinion that Henreid was a noncharismatic leading man - you really can't take your eyes off him in this movie because he's such a charming SOB. I don't know of any other movies where Henreid played a bad guy, but he excels in such a role here. Joan Bennett is also excellent as a jaded single working single girl, not unlike her part as the world-weary Kitty in Scarlet Street (also on the Archive). The plot does defy belief - sort of like Patty Duke's identical oousins - and it would be harder today with the Patriot Act and GovID for even a near double to change his identity and pass himself off as someone else. But that's the fun of movies. Watch this one!

Speaking of Casablanca, John Qualen (who played the dentist in The Scar) also played Berger, a Norwegian refugee who flashes his ring to a certain Czech concentration camp survivor with a German accent. Gee, I wonder who played that guy?

Reviewer: aefre - - April 17, 2010
Subject: Watch for the character actors
Definitely worth seeing. Fleshing out the film are some terrific performances from the bit players, including Alvin Hammer as Jerry, the garage man and would-be ballrooom dancer, and John Qualen as the dentist.

Reviewer: suttree - - November 7, 2009
Subject: THE SCAR: Top Notch Noir
This movie has the very stuff of Film Noir about it. Dark, brooding atmosphere - corrupt, doomed characters - a convoluted plot - an overall sense of fatalism. It's well directed and well acted. The plot contrivances are there, but the point is not complete plausibility, it's a trip into Noir's darkest territory. Highly recommended.

Reviewer: keygrip - - August 21, 2009
Subject: It's asking too much
O.K,if you twist my arm, I'll believe that man on the run Paul Henried could find a convenient double whose identity he could steal. But for the double to have the same Austrian accent? Come on!!
Nevertheless I quite liked the film but not to the extent that Spencer Selby did. His assessment that it is an important film noir is wide of the mark.
Paul Henried was always an uncharismatic leading man. But three cheers for Joan Bennett.

Reviewer: jammyb"stard - - January 31, 2009
Subject: Why nobody notices the scar?
Man this is a movie ive heard about for years but somehow being in Ireland its never been on the box and cant get it on r2 dvd and here it is on internet archive for free.Feckin great.Paul Henreid what a cold bastard. I dont think he gives a damn about about any one in the movie,his girl,his brother or his mates he robs the casino with. Only a sosciopath would permanently scar his face like that. On the notion that its far fetched that nobody notices his scar is on the wrong side i think they DO but human nature being what it is their mind decieves them that they imagined it on the other side. I feel that psycholgy is important in this movie like the fact Bartok is a psychotherapist. Why? Why not a GP a dentist or a lawyer or some such professional? It would have served the script if he was any of these,why a therapist? Maybe to alert us the audience to be more aware of the presence of deeper motivations in the story. The scene after Muller realizes that the scar is on the wrong has him confidently,even brazenly walking into the office building ner a bother on em. All because he instinctfuly knows human nature. My favourite scene is when the lowly cleaning lady stops him and tells him that she noticed the scar, he then shows what seems to be the only true warmth to another character and smiles enigmaticaly. Interesting.Highly recommennded.

Reviewer: careythehero - - October 26, 2008
Subject: THE SCAR IS FLAWLESS!
What you have to ask yourself is what do you want out of film noir? Great plot twists? Gorgeous femme fatale, crime, excellent noir cinematography, clever dialogue? A race against time! Whatever you're looking for as far as film noir is concerned, if you don't think this film has got it then you've just got a personal problem because this movie was friggin' AWESOME! They didn't punk out in the end either. It's 12:22am Sunday! I'm gonna get up in the morning and eat some flapjacks. Man, what a movie!

Reviewer: girlishfun - - October 24, 2008
Subject: The Scar doesnt' need plastic surgeon
Great noir! Tres bien!

Reviewer: flickfdude - - April 28, 2008
Subject: excellent
I think you might enjoy this film.
It had a real nasty twist to it as you would expect with the lead star being who he was.
I gave it a four.